nigerian defence academy
journal of science and engineering (ajse)

Abstract
The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of
intestinal protozoan infections in apparently healthy and diarrhoael
patients in Zaria and Kaduna. A total of 1,005 stool samples were
collected and examined via the direct microscopic examination,
formol-ether concentration technique and safranin-methylene blue
staining technique for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Out of
the 1,005 samples examined, 605 were from the apparently healthy people,
consisting of 306 males and 299 females. While 400 were diarrhoeal
patients, comprising 200 males and 200 females, all in Zaria and Kaduna.
Intestinal protozoans were detected in 75 (7.5%) of the total number of
persons examined, among which 31 (5.1%) were from the apparently
healthy and 44(11.0%) were diarrhoeal patients. Result shows the
following prevalence rate in the apparently healthy people: Entamoeba
histolytica 25 (4.1%), Giardia lamblia 5 (0.8%), Entamoeba coli 1(0.2%)
and Cryptosporidium parvum (0%), while prevalence rate in the diarrhoael
patients were more: Giardia lamblia 21 (5.3%), Entamoeba histolytica
16(4.0%), Entamoeba coli 5 (1.3%) and Cryptosporidium parvum 2
(0.5%).The implication of the findings in relation to gender and age are
discussed.

Abstract Warri/Effurun area is heavily
industrialized and over populated both domestic and industrial waste
are dumped in various spots. Top and depth soils from waste dumping
sites were determined for some selected trace elements such as lead,
mercury, chromium, arsenic, selenium and cadmium. The soils were
digested in acid mixture and the metals were determined using atomic
absorption spectrophotometry. This study was carried out monthly for
the period covering July 2001 - June 2002. Metal contents in
contaminated soils (E1 - E6) were higher than those of
uncontaminated control soils (E7 and E8). These high levels of metals
in soils from E1 - E6 were as a result of wastes dumped. Spearman rank
order correlation coefficient showed that strong relationships were
found for all the metals (P < 0.01) between top soils and depth
soils.

Abstract Kinetics and thermodynamics of dyes
derived from p-amino toluene sulphone-N-ethylanilide as diazocomponent
on wool and nylon 66 substrates are hereby reported. The activation
energy of diffusion decreased as the number of suphonic acid groups
increased. It was also observed that dyes that exhibited azo-hydrazone
tautomerism gave lower activation energies than identical dyes that did
not show the same effect. Monosulphonated dyes recorded higher values of
heat and entropy of dyeing than the disulphonated ones.

THE GUT FOOD COMPOSITION AND FEEDING HABITS OF SYNODONTIS CLARIAS IN
RIVER KADUNA
M. C. Emere
Dept. of Biological Sciences Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna
Abstract
The gut food composition and feeding habits of 215 specimens of
Synodontis clarias in River Kaduna were investigated. They fed mainly on
plant materials. Supplements of most available food materials included
insects, small fish and green algae. The occurrence of detritus as one
of its major diet seemed to indicate a benthic mode of life. The
occurrence of fish in the diet during the cold dry months appeared to
indicate some seasonality in the intake of food.

EFFECT OF THE REPLACEMENT OF MAIZE WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DUSA (LOCAL MAIZE OFFAL) IN THE DIETS OF LAYING CHICKENS
VANTSAWA PHILIP ANTHONY

Abstract
The effect of the replacement of maize with dusa (local
maize offal) in the diets of 378 laying hens of approximately equal
weights was investigated. Proximate analysis and metabolizable energy of
dusa were determined. The three hundred and seventy eight birds were
randomly allocated to seven dietary treatments in which treatment one
was the control and contained no dusa. Treatment two to seven were
composed of rations in which graded levels of dusa replaced maize up to
100% in treatment seven. There were three replicates of 18 birds in each
replicate. Dusa has 10.82% crude protein and a metabolized energy value
of 2784kcal/kg. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05)
observed in the average daily egg production between the treatments
after 6 months of lay. Feed consumption however increased linearly as
the dusa ration increased in the diets. The feed cost (N/dozen of eggs)
decreased significantly (P<0.05) as the level of dusa increased.
There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the percentage
mortality of birds, percent hen-day, percent hen-housed egg production
and in the Haugh unit value. Dusa can therefore replace all the maize in
the diets of laying hens without any adverse effect on egg laying
performance with about 45% savings in the cost of production.

Abstract
Complex of Fe (III) with nicotinohydroxamic acid (NHA) has
been investigated by using spectrophotometric method. Fe (III) in
aqueous solution revealed the sole formation of the 1:3 complexes at
equilibrium. The spectra and magnetic studies of the isolated complex
indicated octahedral coordination. The bonding mode proposed for the Fe
(III) hydroxamate complex is mix bonding mode (N,O). The complex is
biologically active against the eight (8) microorganism investigated.
The ligand and its complex showed moderate activity at 50 µg/ml against
the microbes while at 200 µg/ml both the ligand and its complex showed
maximum activity.

Abstract
The rheological, mechanical and physical characteristics of
natural rubber composites filled with blends of raw palm kernel and
carbon black (N330) at total filler loading of 50phr have been studied.
The blends of raw kernel husk and carbon black used in this study as
filler was characterized in terms of loss on ignition, surface area,
moisture content and oil adsorption. Efficient vulcanization system was
used. The curing characteristic of the compound mixes were determined on
a Monsanto Rheometer. The physico-mechanical properties of the
vulcanizates were measured as a function of volume fraction filler. The
physical testing of the natural rubber vulcanizates involve the
determination of tensile strength, modulus at 100% elongation at break,
compression set, hardness and abrasion resistance properties. The blend,
containing up to 20wt% of raw palm kernel husk gave natural rubber
composites with comparable physico-mechanical properties with composites
obtained with carbon black (N330). Although above 20wt% filler blends
of raw palm kernel husk and N330 exhibits some good vulcanizates
properties, but inferior to carbon black (N330) when used alone,
especially with regards to tensile strength and modulus at 100%.

Abstract
This paper concerns the qualitative properties of membrane
shells of positive curvature. The properties are obtained by applying
the theory of complex holomorphic functions developed in [7, 8]. It is
shown that the zeroes of both the stress function and the displacement
function are regularly distributed. These zeroes are isolated and none
of these two functions vanish identically. These properties are the
pre-requisites for the inverse analysis of the membrane shells.

Abstract
By developing a program in MATLAB, an exact solution of a
16x16 matrix representation of the 2-D Hubbard Hamiltonian used in
describing a simplified 2x1 CuO2 plane (which are known to play a
significant role in HTc-superconductivity in cuprates) is revisited. A
broad-spectrum analysis of the Helmholtz Free energy, F(T), and the
entropy, S(T), of High-Temperature superconductors (HTS) reveal some
very interesting results which include the exhibition of a paramagnetic
phase in the Repulsive Hubbard model, RHM (U>0), and an
antiferromagnetic behaviour of the Attractive Hubbard model, AHM
(U<0); whereas, there is a low-temperature antiferromagnetic
signature in both aspects of the models.

Abstract
The CNM approach to solutions of extrusion problems has
been formulated in Izelu et al [15]. The Procedure and results of
numerical experiments performed, with some axis-symmetric profiled dies
are reported. The results showed that the method is simple and
straightforward in its formulation and implementation with the digital
computer, and involves less complex mathematical details and minimal
geometrical restrictions. They also showed that it is capable of
providing, with dense numerical output, direct and complete solution of
the metal flow problems in axis-symmetric extrusion together with full
predictions of the process performance in any given set of steady-state
extrusion conditions. The predicted effects of the interface friction
factor and extrusion ratio on die performance are quite in agreement
with predictions of other methods.

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION EMISSION FROM COMPUTER MONITORS
DS NYITAMEN

ABSTRACT
The intensity of the electromagnetic fields emitted from
video display unit (VDU) of computers in various directions was
investigated. Measurements of the radiation emissions from the monitors
were made and the data analysed. The results were then compared with
the recommended exposure limits. On the average both components
(magnetic and electric) of electromagnetic radiation, 50 cm away from
the monitor do not exceed permissible values significantly. The
emission levels from the monitors were between 1.5 – 3.2mG and 0 – 4V/m
measured values for magnetic and electric fields respectively compared
to the Swedish Standards Institution (SIS) values of 2mG and 10V/m at 50
cm from the centre of the screen. However, it was observed that
clustered computer monitors with poor spacing arrangement (less than 1
meter apart in any direction) produced significant radiations even at 50
cm from the centre of the screen. Also, multiple electrical cable
cords near the regular operator position were found to increase the
measured radiation values.

POTENTIAL USES OF IMMOBILIZED CELLS OF Fusarium oxysporium IN THE BIOSORPTION OF HEAVY METALS FROM TEXTILE WASTEWATERGARBA HARUNA

Abstract
The effectiveness of immobilized cells of Fusarium
oxysporium in the treatment of textile effluent as well as their ability
to biosorp heavy metals was investigated. Textile wastewater from
United Nigerian Textile Limited was seeded with F oxysporium cells in
order to study their ability to reduced its pollution load before
discharging into receiving water. Immobilized biomass of F oxsporium
was inoculated into the textile effluent for 14 days and its efficiency
in the treatment of textile wastewater was determined by the observed
reductions in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD), as well as the removal of heavy metals after 14 days. During the
retention time, a removal efficiency of between 42% to 95% for BOD, and
9.0% to 93.3% for COD was achieved. The biosorption capacities of F
oxysporium for seven heavy metals ( Co,Pb,Cd,Zn,Mn,Fe and Cr) was
demonstrated. The percentage removal for heavy metals is as follows:
cobalt 100%, manganese 90%, iron 36%, chromium 92%, cadmium 50% , lead
35% and zinc 81%. From these results it may be concluded that F
oxysporium has some potentials in the treatment of textile wastewater
especially in the removal of heavy metals.

Abstract
Investigations have been done concerning the influence of
grinding methods on the surface quality and durability of hard alloy
tools. The experiments were conducted on a horizontal grinding machine
and universal lathe machine in Moscow State University of Technology.
The following methods of grinding were adopted: “Dry” grinding, Grinding
with compressed air and ionized gas medium (IGM) grinding. The samples
(hard alloy tool inserts) for the experiment were obtained from the
following grades of hard alloys: T14K8 and T5K10. The effect of the
grinding methods on the grinding component forces, micro hardness,
surface quality and durability of the hard alloy inserts were found.
Tests were also carried out to find out the influence of grinding
methods on the hard alloy inserts’ wear-resistance and efficiency after
being coated with TiN as well as the quality of the surface(s) machined
with such tools. The results showed that the surface quality of the
ground inserts prior to coating, their durability and efficiency after
coating, depends largely on the method of grinding employed. It was also
observed that, the best way of preparing the surface of hard alloy
material prior to coating is by grinding with the application of IGM.

DESIGN OF A LOCAL INCUBATOR FOR CHICKEN, DUCK AND TURKEY
E. J. Ibanga &
J.A. Enokela

Abstract
A simple temperature control circuit that maintained the
favourable temperature range of 38oC to 40oC – for ideal incubation of
poultry eggs – was designed, built and tested. This simple system uses a
negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor as the temperature-
sensing device to achieve high circuit sensitivity and also a high
degree of stability of temperature of the enclosure. The circuitry could
be used for application in rural environment where electricity supply
is not available by the provision of a 12 V battery. It is the
consideration of this factor and for the reduction of costs that leaves
the control of other factors such as oxygen and carbon dioxide content,
humidity and egg turning, which are necessary for optimum hatchability
to be done manually.

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF SOAPS USING FIVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OIL
NSI, E.W. & EKANEM, E. O.

Abstract
Bar soaps were prepared using different types of oils. The
oils used were palm oil, palm kernel oil, groundnut oil, olive oil and
beef tallow. Quality analysis of the soap prepared was carried out and
the result was compared with the standard specification for hard soap.
The results indicate total fatty matter (T.F.M.) to be 68%, 64%, 54%,
60%, and 58% for palm kernel oil, palm oil, beef tallow, groundnut oil
and olive oil respectively. Results of the analysis also indicate ranges
of values for other properties such as total free alkali; T.F.A (0.134 –
0.171)%, free caustic alkali, FCA, (0.126 – 0.165)%, free carbonate
alkali, F.Ca.A. (0.003 – 0.009)%, lather volume (150 – 440) cm3, time
for foam to subside (11.1 – 23.20) hours. These results depict that the
quality of soap prepared from these oils fall within the standard
specifications. However, the soap prepared from palm kernel oil had
overall best quality.